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Rooney: had a hand in United's first four goals. Martin Meissner/AP/Press Association Images
gimme five

Rooney stars with four assists as United run riot in Germany

David Moyes’ side are through to the Champions League last 16 with a game to spare.

MANCHESTER UNITED CONFIRMED their place in the Champions League knock-out phase with an emphatic 5-0 win against Bayer Leverkusen.

Wayne Rooney laid on four assists in what David Moyes described as “probably the best performance of the season” from his side.

Moyes said: “For us to come away from home and score five goals is really special.”

A volley from Antonio Valencia and an own goal from Leverkusen centre-back Emir Spahic gave United a commanding early lead before defender Jonny Evans added a third with an hour gone.

England defender Chris Smalling added their fourth on 77 minutes after he met Wayne Rooney’s chip at the back post.

Nani then latched on to a Ryan Giggs long ball for a fine solo goal for the fifth on 88 minutes with the Leverkusen defence in tatters.

Rooney proved he can create as well as finish as he had a hand in the first four goals in an outstanding performance.

It was his cross which Valencia converted and his free-kick which Spahic headed into his own net.

His shot led to Evans’ goal and his deft chip beat Leverkusen’s goalkeeper Bernd Leno and found Smalling unmarked for the fourth.

The result keeps David Moyes’ United top of Group A and three points ahead of second-placed Shakhtar Donetsk, who United host at Old Trafford in a fortnight.

Donetsk’s 4-0 win at home to Real Sociedad means Leverkusen drop to third in the group and a point behind the Ukrainians.

© AFP 2013

Zlatan scores his EIGHTH as PSG book place in the last 16

As it happened: Bayer Leverkusen v Manchester United, Champions League

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